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Breville RC3 Family Rice Cooker and Steamer
by thehonesttruth
I eat a lot of rice dishes, yet (and this is a source of eternal shame for me) I have never been able to master cooking rice in a pan on the hob. My attention span is too short, I wonder away, and the pan boils dry (I have the same issues with boiling everything). I've always used a rice cooker, and until last October this was my ... faithful Cookworks model, which after three years of heavy use and abuse, decided it didn't want to play anymore.
Whilst feature wise I'd have been happy buying another of the same, I've been in the process of replacing my kitchen appliances as they broke with shiny stainless steel and chrome finishes, and the white would have stood out like a sore thumb. However,the Breville RC3, which I got for £20, and which also acts as a steamer, fits in with my colour scheme perfectly.
At 24 x 27 x 27 cm , it doesn't take up too much of the worktop, and unlike my old model, since the steamer basket sits internally rather than getting added on the top, it all fits away nicely in my cupboard. Included in the basket are the main electrical body of the cooker, the internal bowl for cooking the rice, the steamer tray, and instruction booklet, a rice measuring scoop and a plastic spatula. With a 1.8 litre capacity, it easily cooks enough rice for four people, with a little bit left over.
The instructions were clear and very easy to follow, the cooker took minutes to get set up, I added in my rice and water, with the handy measuring scoop helping to ensure I got the right proportions, switched it on, and true to form wondered off to do my own thing! The cooker basically works by cooking the rice until all the water is absorbed, after which it buzzes to let you know when the rice is done. It's not the loudest buzzer in the world - I can hear it if I'm in the living room, but not when I'm upstairs. Not to worry though, once the rice is cooked, the cooker will simply switch to warm mode rather than cook mode automatically. The cooker does have a clear glass lid enabling you to keep an eye on things if you want to.
The non stick bowl can be lifted out of the cooker for serving at the table if you want to (or for washing). I however tend to plate up in the kitchen directly from the appliance, so that any rice not portioned out can stay warm while we eat. Occasionally rice does stick a little to the bowl, but not to the extent that it requires much elbow grease to remove it (and naturally, being non stick, you should be careful scrubbing the bowl). The rice comes out nice and fluffy, soft but not wet, and I've never had any issues with it burning or being overdone. I do find the rice at the very bottom of the pot can tend to get a little crispy if left warming too long, so if I think it's going to sit for more than 10-15 minutes, I do like to add an extra cup of water for luck, which prevents this from happening.
There is also an internal steamer, which you use simply by filling the non stick bowl halfway with water, then popping the steamer on top. I have used this on occasion to steam chicken feet and steamed buns, though naturally with the steamer you have to pay attention, as different things take different times to cook, and you can't rely on the cooker to know what meats or desserts are inside the buns. I do find it is a nice tray if I am steaming dim sum for myself alone, but if I am steaming a lot I still prefer to use the traditional bamboo stackers. Nothing sticks to it though, which is good, but it's not a function I use too often.
The bowl is very easy to clean (it is dishwasher safe, but I don't have one myself,) as is the clear glass lid. The outer stainless steel part of the cooker wipes clean and buffs up to a shine easily, and my cooker still looks pretty much as new after 5 and a bit months.
Overall, I'm very please with this. For the £20 I paid I really think I got excellent value for money, especially as it has such a nice large capacity and looks very sleek and stylish. Perhaps my one criticism, not one that affects me personally, but that might put others off, is that it's not really suitable for cooking a single portion of rice, so may not be the right size for everyone.
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Kenwood SB056 Smoothie 2Go Maker
by Chippytarka
My first experience with this type of appliance was with my bullet machine.I loved and cherished it. But due to its untimely death have had to buy alternatives over the years.
This is one of those products that are being made by every company under the son, and to be fair I've bought quite afew of them! But do remind ... yourself that this is Kenwood, and they have been making gadgets for the kitchen for many years, many of which last a very long time so the quality and reliablitiy stands testament.
The thing I love about this smoothie maker is when you open the box it soesnt come with a million and one silly parts that you will never use-it gives you what you need, such as two jugs, two drinking lids etc. Nthing thrown in just for the sake of it, which alot of brands have done. Its a practical maching that for me I used mainly for smoothies and milkshakes for the kids, but perfect if you want to make baby food or blitz up some home made soup when it cools down. The capacity is just right, half a litre, and its so easy to use you dont need to read instructions. Appliance is easy to clean, looks stylish and takes up very little room in the kitchen.Its one of those appliances you wont need to leave in the back of a cupboard-just keep it on the worktop and use!
One of the things I am surprised about, is the amount of times I have dropped the jug itself.Not craked, broken or anything.Very tough.
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